NLDS Game 5: Cardinals vs. Pirates

It wouldn’t be October without the St. Louis Cardinals facing elimination. The Cardinals enter tonight’s NLDS Game 5 (8, TBS) with the Pirates 7-1 in elimination games over the last three seasons.

On the other side are the Pirates — playing in their first postseason since 1992. Pittsburgh hasn’t won a postseason series since the 1979 World Series.

As the old cliche goes … something has to give here! Or maybe it’s the other way around.

Fittingly the Cardinals will hand the ball to Adam Wainwright, owner of a 2.27 lifetime ERA in 39+ postseason-innings. Pittsburgh counters with rookie Gerrit Cole, he of 117 lifetime lifetime innings. It’s a safe bet Pirates fans feel more comfortable with Cole than A.J. Burnett after the veteran righty was shelled earlier in the series. Cole, the former No. 1 overall pick out of UCLA, was called up in June but never threw against the Pirates. Perhaps this works to his favor.